Watercraft propulsion system

Abstract

The present invention provides an electric-powered drive system for coupling to a hull of a watercraft. The electric-powered drive system includes one or more mounting units; a first support members, a second support member, a propeller shaft, a propeller coupled to the distal end of the propeller shaft; and a rudder.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A electric-powered drive system for coupling to a hull of a watercraft comprising:
 a first unit comprising:
 a first mounting member having a first surface, a second surface, a proximal end, a distal end, a first proximal aperture, and a second distal aperture; 
 a first support member having a first surface, a second surface, a proximal end, a distal end, and an aperture,
 wherein the proximal end of the first support member is coupled with the proximal end of the first mounting member and extends away from the first surface of the first mounting member; 
 
 
 a second unit comprising:
 a second mounting member having a first surface, a second surface, a proximal end, a distal end, a first proximal aperture, and a second distal aperture; 
 a second support member having a proximal end and a distal end,
 wherein the proximal end of the second support member is coupled to the second surface of the second mounting member, 
 wherein the distal end of the second support member comprises a cylindrical cavity having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 
 
 a propeller shaft having a proximal end and a distal end,
 wherein the propeller shaft is coupled through the cylindrical cavity so that the distal end of the propeller shaft extends through and beyond the distal end of the cylindrical cavity and the proximal end of the propeller shaft extends through the first proximal aperture of the second mounting member, the first proximal aperture of the first mounting member, and is operatively coupled with an electric motor mounted on the first surface of the first support member through the aperture of the first support member; 
 
 a propeller coupled to the distal end of the propeller shaft; and 
 a rudder having a proximal end, a distal end, and a rudder shaft extending perpendicular to a vertical plane of the rudder,
 wherein the rudder shaft is coupled through the second distal aperture of the second mounting member and the second distal aperture of the first mounting member. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is operatively coupled to an electric power source. 
     
     
       3. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 1 , further comprising a rudder bearing tube coupled to the first surface of the first mounting member. 
     
     
       4. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 1 , wherein the rudder shaft is operatively coupled to a helm. 
     
     
       5. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 1 , further comprising a coupling between the proximal end of the propeller shaft and an electric motor shaft extending from the electric motor. 
     
     
       6. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 1 , further comprising a shaft log containing a shaft seal coupled to the first proximal aperture and the second distal aperture. 
     
     
       7. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first vertical flange and a second vertical flange each independently coupled to the first surface of the first mounting member. 
     
     
       8. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 7 , further comprising one or more bolts to secure the first vertical flange and the second vertical flange to the proximal end of the second support member. 
     
     
       9. A electric-powered drive system for coupling to a hull of a watercraft comprising:
 a first unit comprising:
 a first mounting member having a first surface, a second surface, a proximal end, a distal end, a first proximal aperture, and a second distal aperture; 
 a first support member having a first surface, a second surface, a proximal end, a distal end, and an aperture,
 wherein the proximal end of the first support member is coupled with the proximal end of the first mounting member and extends away from the first surface of the first mounting member; 
 
 
 a second unit comprising:
 a second mounting member having a first surface, a second surface, a proximal end, a distal end, a first proximal aperture, and a second distal aperture; 
 a second support member having a proximal end and a distal end,
 wherein the proximal end of the second support member is coupled to the second surface of the second mounting member, 
 wherein the distal end of the second support member comprises a cylindrical cavity having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 
 
 a propeller shaft having a proximal end and a distal end,
 wherein the propeller shaft is coupled through the cylindrical cavity so that the distal end of the propeller shaft extends through and beyond the distal end of the cylindrical cavity and the proximal end of the propeller shaft extends through the first proximal aperture of the second mounting member, the first proximal aperture of the first mounting member, and is operatively coupled with an electric motor mounted on the first surface of the first support member through the aperture of the first support member, 
 wherein the electric motor is operatively coupled to an electric power source; 
 
 a propeller coupled to the distal end of the propeller shaft; 
 a rudder having a proximal end, a distal end, and a rudder shaft extending perpendicular to a vertical plane of the rudder,
 wherein the rudder shaft is coupled through the second distal aperture of the second mounting member and the second distal aperture of the first mounting member, 
 wherein the rudder shaft is operatively coupled to a helm; 
 
 a first vertical flange and a second vertical flange each independently coupled to the first surface of the first mounting member; 
 a shaft log containing a shaft seal coupled to the first proximal aperture and the second distal aperture: and 
 a coupling between the proximal end of the propeller shaft and an electric motor shaft extending from the electric motor. 
 
     
     
       10. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 9 , further comprising a rudder bearing tube coupled to the first surface of the first mounting member and one or more bolts to secure the first vertical flange and the second vertical flange to the proximal end of the second support member. 
     
     
       11. A electric-powered drive system for coupling to a hull of a watercraft comprising:
 a unit comprising:
 a mounting member having a first surface, a second surface, a proximal end, a distal end, a first proximal aperture, and a second distal aperture,
 wherein the mounting member is coupled to an opening on a bottom of the hull of the watercraft; 
 
 a first support member having a first surface, a second surface, a proximal end, a distal end, and an aperture,
 wherein the proximal end of the first support member is coupled with the proximal end of the mounting member and extends away from the first surface of the mounting member; and 
 
 a second support member having a proximal end and a distal end,
 wherein the proximal end of the second support member is coupled to the first surface of the mounting member, 
 wherein the distal end of the second support member comprises a cylindrical cavity having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 
 
 a propeller shaft having a proximal end and a distal end,
 wherein the propeller shaft is coupled through the cylindrical cavity so that the distal end of the propeller shaft extends through and beyond the distal end of the cylindrical cavity and the proximal end of the propeller shaft extends through the first proximal aperture of the mounting member and is operatively coupled with an electric motor mounted on the first surface of the first support member through the aperture of the first support member; 
 
 a propeller coupled to the distal end of the propeller shaft; and 
 a rudder having a proximal end, a distal end, and a rudder shaft extending perpendicular to a vertical plane of the rudder,
 wherein the rudder shaft is coupled through the second distal aperture of the mounting member. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 11 , wherein the electric motor is operatively coupled to an electric power source. 
     
     
       13. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 11 , further comprising a rudder bearing tube coupled to the first surface of the mounting member. 
     
     
       14. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 11 , wherein the rudder shaft is operatively coupled to a helm. 
     
     
       15. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 11 , further comprising a shaft log containing a shaft seal coupled to the first proximal aperture. 
     
     
       16. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 11 , further comprising a coupling between the proximal end of the propeller shaft and an electric motor shaft extending from the electric motor. 
     
     
       17. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more bonding flanges each independently coupled to the first surface, a second surface, or a combination thereof of the mounting member. 
     
     
       18. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more bonding flanges are each independently coupled to the first surface of the mounting member. 
     
     
       19. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more vertical support members each independently coupled to the first surface, a second surface, or the first surface and the second surface of the mounting member, wherein the first vertical flange, the second vertical flange, and the proximal end of the second support member are secured by one or more bolts. 
     
     
       20. The electric-powered drive system of  claim 11 , further comprising a first vertical flange and a second vertical flange each independently coupled to the first surface of the mounting member.